Grandpa Shin Ha-kyun goes back to his youth in Mr. Back

So it turns out that the title of MBC’s new Wednesday-Thursday drama really IS Mr. Back (we’ve been calling it Mr. Baek until now). I guess I should’ve known the punny title would win out — it is dramaland, after all. The fantasy romantic comedy stars Shin Ha-kyun (All About My Romance) as a 70-year-old grandpa who suddenly returns to his 30-something body, and gets a second chance to go back and relive his youth. The show’s first teaser is out, and gives us a quick introduction to our main characters.

Shin Ha-kyun plays a Scrooge-type chaebol chairman who only cares about himself and his money, named Choi Go-bong (a pun for “highest peak,” or also “highest salary”). An accident suddenly puts him back in his own 30-something body, and he revels at the chance to reclaim the youth he wasted. In the trailer, he struts down the street and smiles at young ladies passing by, declaring that he’s going by the name Choi Shin-hyung now (yet another pun, for “newest model”). His assistant cries that this kind of crazy stuff only happens in dramas, and gramps shuts him up, intent on enjoying this fluke opportunity.

Jang Nara (Fated To Love You) plays Eun Ha-soo (meaning “Milky Way”), a hardworking Candy type who goes from part-time job to part-time job with no prospects. She finally lands her first salaried job and meets the hero, and through him she’ll learn to dream for the first time in her life, while he’ll finally get to experience what love is.

Lee Joon (Gap-dong) plays Shin Ha-kyun’s son, Choi Dae-han (meaning “utmost” — of course you’d pun-name your son, because why not pass that down a generation?). He’s a troublesome heir who’s always getting himself into some new mess or being criticized for his performance at the family company. In the teaser he walks up to a woman and introduces himself as the man who got her pregnant. Yikes. I can imagine that father and son will get some new perspective on each other through this experience… I just hope they won’t end up rivals for the same girl. We’re not going there, right?

Based on the teaser, the tone seems light and goofy and Shin Ha-kyun looks like he’s having a great time with the comedy, so I hope it brings the laughs. Mr. Back follows My Spring Days on Wednesdays and Thursdays and premieres November 5.

October 23, 2014 at 6:38 AM

October 23, 2014 at 5:45 AM

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Looking forward to this. The plot sounds cute and funny..if we don't go there that is lol. I'm also really looking forward to seeing Joon in this role. I love him to pieces and i'm so glad he'll be playing a lighter and funnier role than his last few dramas. I can't really take heavy and dark dramas and so i've been waiting for something like this! Also he looks reallyyy good in the pic above <3 Shin Ha Kyun is usually good at comedic roles so that will be good too, but the only gripe I have is that..he looks a little beyond 30 to me ._. I guess it's not that big of a deal. Anyway I will be checking this one out for sure!

October 23, 2014 at 6:26 AM

October 23, 2014 at 6:44 AM

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Yeahh, I feel the same way too. SHK looks old... Don't get me wrong, I'm exited at the story, but seeing him in the teaser and photos, he doesn't look 30 something, not even 40 (nailed it), he looks like a 45 years old... and JNR looks like an early 30 years old... IDK, he looks too old,

October 23, 2014 at 8:27 AM

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Oh crap I just realized that love triangle was a possibility. Please no. Boss Han is here?! NO DON'T REMIND ME THAT YOO-NA'S STREET IS ENDING!!! Well I bet SHK and he will be hilarious I'll check it out later. Too much right now.

October 23, 2014 at 9:07 AM

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Not only is possible but it is a fact. From synopsis we know that Mr. Choi Senior and Junior will love the same woman, the new intern. Not only that but another male character will have an unacknowledged love for the heroine too.

October 23, 2014 at 3:05 PM

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A candy girl . . Slightly lowering my expectations. I kind of hate how the k-drama industry is like the YA novel industry. They write things in response to what's trendy and popular e.g. vampires stories were popular because of Twilight and then you have a whole slew of books about vampires coming out. Anyways, I'll still check out the first episode of this drama to see if it's any good.

October 25, 2014 at 8:52 AM

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ooh...good to see Lee Joon back in dramaland as well! Loved him in Gapdong. It's good to know that he is not rushing to go for the lead roles instead of trying out various interesting supporting roles =) I think he will turn out to be a fine actor!